Internal combustion engine



April .27, 1943.

E. c. SILVEY v 2,317,946

INTERNAI; COMBUSTION ENGINE Filed July 5, 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS April 1943- E. c. SILVEY INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE Filed July 3, 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEYS.

. April 27, 1943.

E. c. SILVEY 2,317,946

INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE Filed July. :5, 1942 s Sheets-Sheet '5 in I r a INVENTOR. I BY f 47 'ATTORA/Efi Patented Apr. 27, 1943 UNITED STAES ATEN'T OFFICE INTERNAL COBTBUSTION ENGINE Edwin C. Silvey, Jamaica, N. Y.

Application July 3, 1942, Serial No. 449,551

6 Claims.

This invention relates to internal combustion engines and has for its primary object the provision of a power unit which is so characterized from a structural standpoint that it may be economically manufactured, assembled and installed for use to advantage in many fields, as for example, where natural gas or other suitable fuels are so abundantly available as to justify their being utilized, without regard to pronounced efiiciency, in the development of power, provided the initial cost of a suitable power unit and the cost of maintaining such unit is relatively small as compared with the conventional types of present-day internal combustion engines.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which Fig. l is a view partly in section and partly in side elevation of an internal combustion engine embodying the present invention; Fig. 2 is an end view of the engine as it appears from the right in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1; and Fig. 4 is a wiring diagram of an ignition system adapted for use in the present instance. I

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 5 indicates a suitable base or platform, on which the engine proper is supported, the engine being herein illustrated as including three cylinders 6, 1 and 8 although it will be understood that more or less cylinders may be employed, as desired, without departing from the spirit of the invention. Mounted on the base 5 are a pair of bearing standards 10 and H, in the upper ends of which is journaled a power shaft I2 carrying at one end a flywheel l3 and at the other end a belt pulley I4.

To the shaft I2 is secured a grooved pulley l5 and a plurality of power-delivery wheels l8, I1

and I8, the peripheries of which, respectively,

present oppositely disposed flanges ltd-[6b, Hit-[1b, l8a-l8b. These flanges are so machined that their outer and inner faces are concentric with respect to the axis of the power shaft l2 in order that they may be effectively gripped intermittently by a plurality of selfenergizing pawl-like driving lugs or dogs, hereinafter referred to by the reference characters 8585, B685 and 81-81 and more particularly described.

Mounted on the base 5 is a cylinder support 20, comprising end members 2|, to the upper ends of which is connected a top plate 22. The top plate 22 is provided with a plurality of openings a illustrated as comprising a contact arm 56, carried 7 24, within which are suitably secured the lower ends of the vertically disposed cylinders 6, 1 and 8, each cylinder being provided atits lower end with a frusto-conical or funnel-like fitting 25. These fittings are provided with inlet passages 26, 21 and28 leading to the respective cylinders. The upper faces of the fittings 25 serve as valve seats for a plurality of valve balls 38, 3| and 32, Which normally maintain the cylinders 6, 1 and 8 closed to their respective inlet passages 26, 21 and 28.

To the fittings 25, are connected a plurality of delivery conduits 34, 35 and 38, which are in turn connected to a conventional type of rotary distributor valve 31 of any conventional kind, to which leads a supply conduit 38, communication between which and the several delivery conduits is established successively by way of the distributor valve. I The delivery conduit 38 leading to the valve 31 is connected to the outlet conduit 48 of any conventional type of compressor C, to which air and a suitable gaseous fuel is delivered by Way of air and gas inlet pipes 4| and 42, respectively, which are equipped with control valves 44 in order that such volumes of gas and air may be admitted to the compressor C and thence to the cylinders 6, 1 and 8 as will effect complete or substantially complete combustion of the explosive mixture whenignited within the cylinders.

The shaft 45 of the compressor 0 is provided at its opposte ends with grooved pulleys 48 and 41, the former of which is connected by a belt 48 to the grooved pulley 15 carried by the power shaft l2, and the latter of which is connected by a belt 58 to a grooved pulley 51 secured to the shaft 52 of the rotary valve 31.

In order that the explosive mixture delivered to the respective cylinders 6, 1 and 8 in succession by way of the distributor valve 31 may be ignited, such cylinders are equipped with conventional spark plugs 54, suitably mounted in the side walls of the cylinders, and the electric circuits of which may be closed, according to standard practice, by a conventional type of commutator 55 herein by, but insulated from, the valve shaft 52 and adapted to be moved progressively into circuitclosing engagement with a series of equi-distantly spaced contacts 51, 58 and 60, carried by a contact supporting panel 6|, of insulating material mounted on the base 5.

The ignition circuit employed in conjunction with the spark plugs 54 includes, as shown diagrammatically in Fig. 4, a plurality of branch conductors 82, 64 and 65 connected to the contacts 51, 58 and 60, respectively, and leading to the spark plugs 54 of the respective cylinders 8, I and 8, the spark plugs being grounded through the cylinder walls, as shown at G. The contact arm 56 is connected to ground, as shown at G, by a conductor 68, in which is disposed a source of current, such as a battery B, from which current is delivered tothe spark" plugs 54' ofthe respective cylinders 6. 1 and 8 as the contact arm 58- is rotated in a clockwise direction, reference being had to Fig. 2.

It is to be understood that the. closing oi the circuits to the spark plugs 54 of the respective cylinders 6, 1 and 8 is so timed with relation to the operation of the valve 31 that communication between the compressor C and any given cylinder is severed immediately prior to; the. closing of the ignition circuit of the spark plug of that cylinder. Hence, it will be understood that any one of the valve-balls 38, 31, 32 that is elevated from its associated valve seat under the action of gas mixture flowing under pressure from the compressor byway of the valve 31', will fall by gravity to its seated position immediately prior to such time as the gas is ignited within. a. designated cylinder. Such valve-ball operation will, of course, obviate the burning of gas within the respective inlet conduits 3'4, 35 and 36 leading from the valve 31 to the cylinders 6, I, 8 and. will confine the, explosion of gas to the cylinders according to their firing order;

In order that the explosions occurring, within the cylinders 6,. land 8 may be effectively utilized to impart rotation to the power shaft [2, the cyl nders are equipped with telescopic pistons 61, 53 and 69. which function somewhat in the manner of pistons employed in conventional types of internal combustion. engines. The pistons El, 68 and, 69 are. identical. and each includes a top plate T8, having a depending. peripheral skirt-like. wall I [,the lower end of which is provided with an, outwardly extending web 12, to the perimeter of which is connected an upwardly extendingv cylindrical wall 13, spaced from the wall 'H so as to provide. an intervening air space S if desired. The walls H and 13-, together with their associated web 12, constitute an annular vane V loosely fitting and adapted fOr vertical reciprocation within an annular pocket P formed by a pair of spaced cylindrical walls M and 75. connected together at their lower ends by a web 16. It is to: be noted that the inner walls 14 are spaced from the walls of the respective cylinders 6, l and 8, so as to provide air or liquid cooling spaces S. surrounding the several. cylinders. The. inner walls 76 are connected to the upper ends of the respective cylinders. 'l and 8 through the medium of annular flanges ll which extend outwardly from the upper ends of the several cylinders.

Each of the three covers 1!! of. the piston 51-, E8 and 69 carries a lug. 88,. to. which one endof a link 8! is pivotally connected. Each link BI is pivotally connected at its other end tothe outer ends of a plurality of pairs of drive levers 82'-82', 8383 or SA-84, the inner ends. of which drive levers are pivotally supported on the power shaft l2 to which the power delivery wheels I6, I! and I8 are secured. As. shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the pairs of. levers 82-82, 8383 and 8484 are provided, respectively; with pivotally supported pairs of dogs 85-85, 86--88 and til-81 the free ends of which engage the inner and outer surfaces of the power-delivery-wheelflanges l8a l6b, |1a-I1b and [Ba-I817. As is apparent from Figs. 2 and 3, pairs of dogs -85, 8686 and 81--81 are so angularly disposed with relation to the levers 82-8Z, 83-83 and 8484 on which said dogs are carried that, as said levers are moved upwardly due to the rising of a piston. 61', 68 or 69; the pairs of. dogs impinge on and grip the flanges of the wheel I6, H or l8, thus causing the power shaft I2 carrying these wheels to be rotated in a clockwise direction as. viewed. in Figs. 2 and 3. However, when the force'of the explosion is spent and the piston 61, 68 or 69 falls, thereby moving the pairs of levers. 82-82,. 8383 or 8484 downwardly, the pairs of dogs 85-85, 8686 or 8l81 exert no gripping action on the wheel flanges, and consequently exert no counter turning. effect on the power shaft ['2 while the piston 61,. 68' or 69 is falling or is in its lowermost position.

The engine embodying the present invention may be started by hand or mechanically, as will be understood, by rotating the power shaft l2 in a clockwise. direction as viewed in Figs. 2 and 3, in. which. case the pistons 61, 68 and 69' remain at rest on the upper ends of the cylinders 6, I and 8. During the starting period, the compressor C delivers air and gas under slight pressure tc one or another of the cylinders 6,1 and 8, by way of the distributor valve 31, whereupon such air and gas mixture is ignited, within one of the cylinders with the result that its piston 81, 58 or 69, as the case may be, is moved up.- wardiy under the force of explosion causing the dogs 85-85, 8686, or 818 l', as the case may be, to grip the flanges of one of the power-delivery wheels and thus rotate the power shaft [2. Once the engine is operatingunder its own. power, the cylinders 6, l and. 8 are firedin. order, with the result that the. power shaft. i2 is subjected to succesive turning forces in the manner just de scribed in connection withthe. operation. of one of the several cylinders.

Exploded gases from. the cylinders. 6, l and 8 escape through the. substantial clearance. spaces betweenv the annular vanes. V. and. the side walls of the pockets P. The clearance spacesjust mentioned are of such limited extent that. they afiord a relatively slow-escape-passage for the exploded gases, thus allowing. the expansion of the exploded gas within any given cylinder 6-, l or 8 to be effectively translated. into power of rotation, while at. the same time permitting the escape of the exhaust gases. at a. sufiiciently high rate to allow the piston 61, 68 or 89 of any given cylinder to return by gravity to its normal position of rest before such given. cylinder" is again conditioned for firing. by being. filled with the explosive mixture of gasv and air.

According to the present invention, the major force of. explosion is delivered, directly to the pistons 61 63 and 69,. but it is to be noted that such major or direct force is supplemented by a reactionary force acting on the lower ends of. the vanes V, the supplemental or reactionary force being accounted for by the sudden change in direction of flow of the exhaust gasesv as they travel downwardly and then upwardly through the pockets P.

Although only one embodiment of the present invention is herein shown and described, it will be understood that various modifications may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the following claims.

What is clalmed is:

1. An internal combustion engine comprising a cylinder, means for delivering an explosive fuel to said cylinder, means for igniting and thus causing an explosion of said fuel within said cylinder, a piston tending to maintain a normal position of rest and adapted to be moved outwardly under the force of said explosion and adapted to move inwardly to its normal position upon release of exhaust from said cylinder, a power shaft, and gripper means operable only upon outward movement of said piston to couple said piston to said shaft and thereby effect unidirectional rotation of such shaft.

2. An internal combustion engine comprising an upwardly extending cylinder, means for delivering an explosive fuel to said cylinder, means for igniting and thus causing an explosion of said fuel within said cylinder, a piston forming with said cylinder a relatively slow-escape passage for exhaust and adapted to be moved upwardly under the force of said explosion and adapted to move downwardly under the action of gravity incident to release of exhaust from said cylinder by way of said passage, and means for utilizing said exhaust as it is released from said cylinder to effect a reactionary force on said piston.

3. An internal combustion engine comprising a cylinder, means for delivering an explosive fuel to said cylinder, means for igniting and thus causing an explosion of said fuel within said cylinder, a piston forming with said cylinder a relatively slow-escape passage for exhaust and tending to maintain a normal position of rest and adapted to be moved outwardly under the force of said explosion and adapted to move inwardly to its normal position upon release of exhaust from said cylinder by way of said passage, a power shait, gripper means operable only upon outward movement of said piston to couple said piston to said shaft and thereby effect unidirectional rotation of such shaft and means for utilizing said exhaust as it is released from said cylinder to efiect a reactionary force on said piston.

4. An internal combustion engine comprising a cylinder surrounded by an annular pocket, a piston overlying one end of said cylinder and having an annular vane extending into said pocket and dimensioned with respect to such pocket for free longitudinal displacement therein incident to corresponding movement of said piston, said vane forming with the wall of said pocket a slow-escape passage for exhaust, and means for effecting successive explosions of combustible fuel within said cylinder incident to each of which said piston is moved outwardly and pursuant to each of which the exhaust escaping by way of said passage is utilized to effect a reactionary force on said piston.

5. An internal combustion engine comprising a cylinder surrounded in spaced relation thereto by an annular pocket, a piston overlying one end of said cylinder and having an annular vane extending into said pocket and dimensioned with respect to such pocket for free longitudinal displacement therein incident to corresponding movement of said piston, said vane bieng provided substantially throughout its length with an annular air space and forming with the walls of said pocket a slow-escape passage for exhaust, and means for effecting successive explosions of combustible fuel within said cylinder incident to each of which said piston is moved outwardly and pursuant to each of which exhaust escaping by way of said passage is utilized to effect a reactionary force on said piston.

6. An internal combustion engine comprising a cylinder, an inlet conduit communicating with the bottom of said cylinder and provided with a valve seat, a valve ball cooperating with said valve seat thereby forming a check valve substantially preventing the passage of gases from said cylinder into said conduit, a compressor for delivering a combustible fuel mixture to said cylinder through said check valve, means for igniting and thus causing an explosion of said fuel mixture within said cylinder, a pistontending to maintain a normal position of rest at the lower limit of its travel and adapted to be moved upwardly under the force of said explosion and fall downwardly to its normal position when the force of the explosion in said cylinder is spent, a power shaft, and gripper means operable only upon outward movement of said piston to couple said piston to said shaft and thereby effect unidirectional rotation of said shaft.

EDWIN C. SILVEY. 

